Boom Supersonic`s XB-1 aircraft contains more than 20 titanium parts from a 3D printer and is mainly used for critical engine operations in extremely high temperature environments.
The aircraft contains more than 20 titanium alloy printed parts
Digital manufacturing innovator VELO3D announced that Boom Supersonic`s XB-1 aircraft includes 21 flight hardware components manufactured by VELO3D`s Sapphire 3D metal printer. This aircraft marked a turning point in the commercial viability of supersonic travel and demonstrated the power of additive manufacturing or 3D printing that can accelerate product development while enabling innovation.
Benny Buller, CEO and founder of VELO3D, said: “Due to the challenging aerodynamic design that must be balanced with excellent durability and high temperature requirements, aviation hardware is particularly difficult to manufacture through 3D metal printing.” VELO3D's technology allows Produce lightweight, complex designs for mission-critical applications under the most demanding operating conditions. Our partnership with Boom is indeed an advancement in the metal additive manufacturing industry, and the XB-1 supersonic aircraft is a revolution in the aviation industry. "
Boom Supersonic and VELO3D announced a partnership in 2019 to build complex flight hardware to build XB-1, and conducted a series of qualification tests on VELO3D's sapphire system. The printed titanium parts are used for engine hardware, environmental control systems and structural components. Features of the geometric design include tall and thin walls with a high aspect ratio, which are inherently difficult to manufacture by traditional processes (such as welding and casting) or even most existing 3D printing techniques. The printing process achieves unprecedented design freedom and quality control, and eliminates manufacturing constraints in aircraft design innovation.
XB-1 is the world's first independently developed supersonic jet. It will be used to demonstrate key technologies of Boom’s future commercial airliner Overture, such as advanced carbon fiber composite material structure, computer-optimized efficient aerodynamics and efficient supersonic propulsion system. XB-1 is the final product of many years of development work, including multiple wind tunnel tests, dozens of structural tests, hundreds of simulation iterations and tens of thousands of working hours.